India logged more than 20 Lakh coronavirus cases on Friday, with the countrywide figure standing at 20,27,074. The country is behind Brazil, which has more than 2.9 million cases and the US, which is leading the list of nations hit worst by the pandemic, with close to 5 million cases.
A sharp surge of 62,538 new coronavirus patients in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said this morning, adding that number of COVID-linked deaths have crossed 41,000.

A total of 13,78,105 patients have recovered since the beginning of the pandemic, the government data shows. More than 850 Covid-19 patients have died since yesterday. While India's recovery rate stood at 67.98 per cent this morning, the positivity rate - that indicates the percentage of patients testing positive for the highly infectious illness - stood at 10.88 per cent.

Over 2.27 crore samples have been tested so far in India, which has a population of about 130 crore people.

In the last 24 hours, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh were the five states that recorded the highest surge in COVID cases, detailed report as written below.

Punjab: The Punjab ITI students have made a remarkable contribution in the fight against COVID19 under Mission Fateh in the state by making 17 lac masks. No other technical education institute of any state of the country is even closer to this number.
Haryana: Taking yet another step towards its commitment in providing relief to students facing financial hardship amid COVID-19, J.C. Bose University of Science and Technology, YMCA, Faridabad has introduced and implemented a Policy to Support Economically Weaker and Needy Students with the provision to waive off or refund tuition fee up to 100% and also invite applications from those students who are unable to pay their fee or dues because of financial crunch in the family.
Himachal Pradesh: The Governor said that Dr.Rajendra Prasad Medical College Tanda, Kangra has shown better results during last few months in dealing with COVID-19 patients which is appreciable. He added that although the Hospital was not designated as COVID-19 Hospital yet the authorities were putting in all efforts in dealing with the situation. He said that initially the hospital had a testing capacity of 107 samples but today they were testing more than 700 samples and suggested increasing the testing facility. He also directed to motivate the blood donors and coordinate other volunteer groups in organizing blood donation camps. He expressed satisfaction that the hospital has 1000-unit blood storage capacity and there is no dearth of blood in the bank.
Arunachal Pradesh: Arunachal Pradesh state govt said that for returnees willing to opt for Home Quarantine (HQ) may apply in advance in the prescribed format at [email protected]. Only after approval, one should report at check gate, and if the report is negative & clinically assigned asymptomatic, they would be allowed for HQ.
Manipur: In Manipur, COVID-19 district Minister-in-charge of Thoubal and Kakching, Dr. ThokchomRadheshyam holds an emergency meeting with the officials of the District Administration on steps to contain COVID19 in the districts.A 15-year-old boy from Phubala of Bishnupur district of Manipur, who was COVID-19 positive expired today due to Nephrotic Syndrome.
Mizoram: Mizoram State Election Commission has announced local bodies polls. Polling will be held on the 27th of this month.
Nagaland: In Nagaland 82 new COVID-19 positive case confirmed today. Out of 606 samples tested; 58 are from Dimapur, 22 are from Kohima& 2 in Phek. Total positive cases in the state stand at 2580.
Kerala: COVID -19 cases are spiking at an alarming rate in the coastal areas of capital Thiruvananthapuram, with 104 people testing positive till noon in the rapid antigen tests being carried out. There are 13 large community clusters in the district. One more Covid-19 death has been reported in the state which is in the capital. Police have issued a new circular on certain restrictions in shops, malls and banks to be followed to prevent transmission of COVID. Heavy rains lashing the Central and northern parts of the state have posed a big challenge to the authorities in maintaining COVID protocols in relief and rehabilitation activities. Kerala recorded 1,195 new cases and 1,234 recoveries yesterday. As many as 11,492 patients are currently undergoing treatment and 1,47,974 persons are under observation in various districts.
Tamil Nadu: Puducherry reports 195 fresh Covid-19 cases and five deaths taking the total number of positive cases to 4621, active cases to 1743, and deaths to 70. More than 30 people, scheduled to participate in the meetings of Chief Minister EdappadiPalaniswami in Dindigul on Wednesday, tested positive for COVID. Yesterday TN reported 5,175 new COVID positive cases which is fewer than earlier, and 112 deaths, the highest single-day toll. There are 54,184 active cases in the State now and the death toll has reached 4461.
Karnataka: Chief Minister B.S.Yediyurappa has directed the District in-Charge Ministers to take precautionary measures in the wake of heavy rainfall across the State. He instructed the ministers to remain in their constituencies and tour the damaged areas. He also directed them to undertake relief distribution and other necessary measures. State records increase in Covid-19 cases, the principal bench of HC to be closed on 7th August. 5619 new COVID cases, 5407 discharges & 100 deaths reported yesterday. Total cases : 1,51,449; Active cases: 73,958; Total Deaths: 2804.
Andhra Pradesh: State health minister says the government is spending Rs.350 crore per month for COVID management, adding that Coronavirus diagnostic tests are being conducted in a way that is unheard of in the country. He further said that the Sanjeevani buses were introduced to collect COVID samples from even remote areas. CPI state secretary writes to CM on the ruling party leaders going to Hyderabad for COVID treatment; questioning whether the common people who are undergoing treatment in AP will have any faith in the government. 10,128 new cases, 8729 discharges and 77 deaths reported yesterday. Total cases: 1,86,461; Active cases: 80,426; Deaths: 1681.
Telangana: State health officials are laying a lot of stress on the need to provide doctors’ consultation to persons who have tested positive at the out-patient facilities across all the State-run hospitals through fever clinics. 2092 new cases, 1289 recoveries & 13 deaths reported in the last 24 hours in Telangana; out of 2092 cases, 535 cases reported from GHMC. Total cases: 73,050; Active cases: 20,358; Deaths: 589; Discharges :52,103.The case fatality rate dropped slightly to 0.80 from 0.81 on August 3 and this is much below the national average of 2.09%..
Maharashtra: Pune district on Wednesday breached the one-lakh grim mark of progressive positive cases with overall tally reaching 101,262. Thane is close behind with 99,563 reported cases. Pune has now joined the list of Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai which have reported over one lakh COVID case. Maharashtra has 1.45 lakh active cases as on date.
Gujarat: Eight patients have died in a fire that broke out at a Covid-19 designated hospital in Ahmedabad. They were being treated at the ICU of the Shrey Hospital in Navrangpura. Around 40 other patients have since been shifted to SardarVallabhbhai Patel Hospital. Prime Minister has announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for the kin of the deceased.
Rajasthan: Rajasthan, which held the top position in recovery rate not too long ago, is facing an uphill task with a rapid spike in COVID cases. It took 108 days to register the first 13,000 cases, whereas the next 13,000 cases have been registered in only the past 12 days. Rajasthan reported 593 new cases during the past 24 hours, even as the number of active cases is 13,630.
Madhya Pradesh: The state-reported 652 new COVID 19 cases on Wednesday, taking the total number of reported cases to 35, 734. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan has been discharged from hospital after recovering from COVID 19 infection. He has been advised 7 days of home isolation.
Goa: Airports Authority of India has issued fresh guidelines for tourists arriving in Goa. They will need to undergo 14-day quarantine. The exemption shall be granted in case a Passenger is able to produce a COVID-19 negative certificate issued by ICMR recognized lab, not older than 48 hours prior to the arrival in Goa.